Pubdate: Fri, 25 Jul 2014
Source: Vancouver Sun (CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Postmedia Network Inc.
Contact:  http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/477
Author: Matthew Robinson
Page: A7

POLICE SEARCH POT SHOP AFTER REPORTS OF UNAUTHORIZED SALES

Nobody Arrested Following Raid; Jim's Weeds Lounge in East Vancouver 
Is One of 45 Cannabis Dispensaries in Vancouver

Police searched what they called an illegal East Vancouver marijuana 
shop Thursday afternoon after receiving reports that weed was being 
purchased at the store and then sold to neighbourhood youth.

There were three staff members and five customers at Jim's Weeds 
Lounge at 882 East Hastings St. when officers executed their search 
warrant, but no arrests were made at the time, said Sgt. Randy 
Fincham, a spokesman for the Vancouver Police Department, in a news release.

Fincham gave few other details, but said police would "respond to any 
complaints about illegal marijuana use and sales and decide if 
further investigation or enforcement action is required."

A man answering the phone at Jim's Weeds Lounge Thursday declined to 
be interviewed.

"I'm not interested in any of that. Please hang up and try later ... 
No comment," he said before hanging up.

Jim's Weeds Lounge ships B. C. bud, joints, hash, resin, edible 
products infused with cannabis and other marijuana products across 
Canada, according to its website.

The lounge is part of Nations Best Weeds Society, according to its 
website. The society was incorporated in 2013 and is run by five 
directors according to B. C. Registry Services.

They are listed as James Harrison of Vancouver, James Leslie of Deep 
Cove and Amirhoushang, Mehdi and Nik Nikzaban, all of West Vancouver.

There are about 45 marijuana dispensaries in Vancouver, and as a 
recent Sun investigation showed, it can be remarkably easy to 
purchase cannabis-infused goods from the shops.

The search at Weeds comes just days after Don Briere, owner of the 
unrelated Weeds Glass and Gifts chain of dispensaries, told The Sun 
his shops would continue their practice of selling less than a gram 
of combustible or edible cannabis to those without a federal 
medicinal licence or a note from a naturopath or doctor.

Fincham said the focus of the department remained on cracking down on 
violent drug traffickers and "those who prey on youth, the 
marginalized or the drug addicted."

Front line officers will continue to use discretion in enforcing the 
possession and consumption of marijuana under federal law, Fincham 
said, adding that options include criminal charges, seizures and 
violation tickets for smoking.

with research from librarian Kate Bird 
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom